New York Divorce Records: Certificates, Certified Judgments and Who Can Get Them
New York family law · Last reviewed October 7, 2026
New York keeps two different records of a divorce, and they answer different needs:
- a divorce certificate (Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage) from the New York State Department of Health, a short record that a divorce happened; and
- a certified copy of the judgment of divorce from the county clerk where the divorce was granted, the full court order, with its terms on property, support and custody.
The certificate shows that a divorce happened. If you need to prove or enforce the terms, you need the judgment.
The Department of Health divorce certificate
The Department of Health's vital records office "has the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage for all divorces or civil annulments for New York State since 1963," including New York City divorces. "If the divorce was granted before January 1, 1963, the divorce decree is the only type of document available," and it comes from the county clerk.
- Who can order: either spouse, or someone with a New York State court order.
- Cost: $30 per copy by mail; $45 per copy online or by phone through the state's approved vendor, plus the vendor's processing fee. The $45 includes a $15 priority handling fee.
- Mail orders go to the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602.
The department currently warns of significant processing delays.
A certified copy of the judgment from the county clerk
The judgment and the rest of the file are kept by the county clerk of the county where the case was heard. Fees are set partly by statute and partly by each office:
| County | Certified copy of judgment |
|---|---|
| New York (Manhattan) | 25 cents per page plus $8.00 per certification |
| Bronx | $8.00 per certified copy |
| Westchester | $1.25 per page, $5 minimum, $40 maximum |
| Nassau | $1.25 per page, $5 minimum |
| Suffolk | $1.25 per page, $5 minimum, $40 maximum |
| Erie | $5 minimum (up to 4 pages), then $1.25 per page, $40 maximum |
Kings (Brooklyn), Queens and Richmond (Staten Island) don't post a separate fee online; call the county clerk's matrimonial office. Have the index number ready if you can, along with both spouses' names and the year.
Who can see a divorce file: DRL § 235
New York divorce files aren't public. Under Domestic Relations Law § 235, the county clerk may not let anyone other than "a party, or the attorney or counsel of a party" see or copy the pleadings, affidavits, findings of fact, conclusions of law or "judgment of dissolution" without a court order. County clerks apply this to the whole file. New York County, for example, allows access to "the parties, attorney of records and any person with an original notarized authorization letter."
Two exceptions:
- Anyone may get a certificate of disposition, which certifies "the nature and effect" of the judgment without revealing the pleadings, testimony or findings (§ 235(3)).
- The confidentiality lasts a long time but not forever: it ends "one hundred years after date of filing."
Changing your name back
Every New York judgment of divorce must include "a provision that each party may resume the use of his or her premarriage surname or any other former surname" (DRL § 240-a). That clause is your authority: you don't need a separate name-change case. Keep a certified copy of the judgment to show when you update your records.
Older divorces and genealogy
For divorces granted before 1963, the county clerk's decree is the only record. Ask the county clerk where records from the year you need are kept. The 100-year rule means divorce files filed more than a century ago are no longer confidential.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a copy of my divorce decree in New York?
From the county clerk in the county where your divorce was granted. As a party, you can request a certified copy in person or by mail. Fees vary, from $8 per certification in the Bronx to $1.25 per page with a $5 minimum in several other counties.
What is the difference between a divorce certificate and a divorce decree in New York?
The Department of Health's divorce certificate is a short vital record that a divorce took place, available for divorces since 1963. The judgment of divorce (the decree) is the full court order with the terms, available from the county clerk.
Are divorce records public in New York?
No. Under DRL § 235, only the spouses and their lawyers can see or copy the papers without a court order, for 100 years after filing. Anyone can get a certificate of disposition showing that a divorce was granted.
How much is a New York divorce certificate?
$30 per copy by mail from the Department of Health, or $45 plus a vendor processing fee online or by phone.
How do I change my name back after a divorce in New York?
Your judgment of divorce includes a provision letting you resume a premarriage or other former surname. You don't need a separate name-change case.